Manufacturing Rate

[Aprilia]

Very true! There are also (IIRC) close to 100K municipalities in the US. Now, "IF" each municipality only replaced "one" worn-out vehicle from their fleet, every year...they "could" save a substantial amount of money. Kind of a no brainer!

I just don't see the reality of the Elio ever being a fleet vehicle for smaller municipalities...most employees would refuse to operate such a small vehicle...just is not in our cultural behavior...there's a reason the F150 is best selling vehicle in America!

 

[WilliamH]

I just don't see the reality of the Elio ever being a fleet vehicle for smaller municipalities...most employees would refuse to operate such a small vehicle...just is not in our cultural behavior...there's a reason the F150 is best selling vehicle in America!

Refusing to drive the provided vehicle sounds a lot like a resignation.

 

[slinches]

As long as it's perceived as safe, I don't see why it wouldn't sell to US buyers. Yes, F-series trucks do extremely well, but there are many more small and mid-size cars of various makes and models sold each year (780k vs. ~5 million/yr total).

Major auto manufacturers saying that small cars don't sell has to be taken in the context of the total size of the market. No single small commuter vehicle model will outsell the Ford truck lineup any time soon, but that doesn't mean the Elio can't take enough share from the small to mid-size car market to reach their 250k/yr target (it's only 5% of that 5 million).

 

[John Painter]

I respect your thought process.

But American have always shown a preference for larger vehicles...possibly that will change someday...but it seems to be embedded in our cultural identity! LOL

FYI...I've owned 3 new Smart Cars...a '09, a '11, and finally a '13...

I loved my Smart's...but most just laughed at me...unfortunately... most American drivers scorn small cars!

I guess it depends on what one considers large or small, and where one sees a large number of Americans incomes going.

 

[Rob Croson]

unfortunately... most American drivers scorn small cars!

IMHO, Smart had two problems: Price was too high, and mileage was too low. You got a tiny car for almost the same price, and barely better mileage than you could get with other cars. And now you can get even better mileage than a Smart, in a bigger car, for not too much more. So, what's the market segment for it?

Elio has got Smart beat on both price and mileage. When they get this thing to market, it's got customers. So many people want to buy one already, without ever having even seen one. The demand, once people can actually see and touch one, and drive one, should be very high.

 

[Aprilia]

IMHO, Smart had two problems: Price was too high, and mileage was too low. You got a tiny car for almost the same price, and barely better mileage than you could get with other cars. And now you can get even better mileage than a Smart, in a bigger car, for not too much more. So, what's the market segment for it?

Elio has got Smart beat on both price and mileage. When they get this thing to market, it's got customers. So many people want to buy one already, without ever having even seen one. The demand, once people can actually see and touch one, and drive one, should be very high.

I'm not holding out for a $7,000 Elio vehicle...I just don't see that price point ever materializing in the real world.

If my Elio costs $12,000 (or a bit more) that's OK...

I'll be happy if Paul Elio can sustain 50K sales a year for the Elio vehicle given the market headwind's he faces with regards to small car ownership.

My Elio will replace one of my recreational weekend motorcycles...

I view the Elio as an enclosed motorcycle...not a car!

I look forward to Elio ownership...and hope it will eventually come to market!

 

[slinches]

The SMART advantage is the square footprint. For those who live in cities that have limited parking available, they can pull straight into half width spots. That's a neat concept for vehicles that never leave an urban environment, but that's a small market in the US. Most people (especially in western states) commute on highways or multi-lane expressways daily where the square body shape is a major drawback in mileage and handling, leaving the door open for the competition. The Nissan Versa gets similar highway mileage for the same price and for just a bit more you can get a Mazda 3 which gets higher highway mpg, can carry a useful amount of cargo and is fun to drive.

 

[Aprilia]

The SMART advantage is the square footprint. For those who live in cities that have limited parking available, they can pull straight into half width spots. That's a neat concept for vehicles that never leave an urban environment, but that's a small market in the US. Most people (especially in western states) commute on highways or multi-lane expressways daily where the square body shape is a major drawback in mileage and handling, leaving the door open for the competition. The Nissan Versa gets similar highway mileage for the same price and for just a bit more you can get a Mazda 3 which gets higher highway mpg, can carry a useful amount of cargo and is fun to drive.

I think the Smart brand will disappear from the American market in the next couple of years...just not enough demand for a small European style vehicle...it's sort of sad because the Smart is such a unique vehicle...I always referred to my Smart's as my motorized "Roller Skates"!

No Versa or Mazda 3 for me...too generic & boring!

 

[WilliamH]

I'm not holding out for a $7,000 Elio vehicle...I just don't see that price point ever materializing in the real world.

If my Elio costs $12,000 (or a bit more) that's OK...

I'll be happy if Paul Elio can sustain 50K sales a year for the Elio vehicle given the market headwind's he faces with regards to small car ownership.

My Elio will replace one of my recreational weekend motorcycles...

I view the Elio as an enclosed motorcycle...not a car!

I look forward to Elio ownership...and hope it will eventually come to market!

I'm sure that dealers near "The Woodlands" would gouge as much as they could while it was difficult to get them. But fortunately, dealers are cut out of the picture.

 

[wizard of ahs]

The SMART advantage is the square footprint. For those who live in cities that have limited parking available, they can pull straight into half width spots. That's a neat concept for vehicles that never leave an urban environment, but that's a small market in the US. Most people (especially in western states) commute on highways or multi-lane expressways daily where the square body shape is a major drawback in mileage and handling, leaving the door open for the competition. The Nissan Versa gets similar highway mileage for the same price and for just a bit more you can get a Mazda 3 which gets higher highway mpg, can carry a useful amount of cargo and is fun to drive.

I just love people who toot their own horn ........... do the research......it's not even close.

Taken from Fulley.com ......... real world mileages.

I've driven my smart from coast to coast and "always" average 40+"